31 Frights of October

Karma's Shadow

Lilah shoved Susie against the lockers, the sharp clang of metal echoing down the empty hallway. Lilah sneered, her frustration rising. She hadn't wanted to get physical, but Susie had left her no choice. Her grades had been slipping, and if Lilah didn't keep her own perfect record, she'd lose her spot as student council president.

"I thought I made myself clear, Susie. Another grade below 95, and this is going to get a whole lot worse." Lilah's voice was low and threatening as she yanked her hands off Susie's shoulders. Susie collapsed onto the floor, trembling, her shoulders shaking as silent tears fell.

For a second, Lilah's eyes darted around the hallway—no one was watching, but it would be harder to hide what she was doing if Susie kept crying.

Lilah barked, "Get up!"

Susie struggled to her feet, her thin frame unsteady. Her dark hair, limp and tangled, clung to her pale face. She barely managed to meet Lilah's cold, ocean-blue eyes, which gleamed with impatience. Susie's own eyes, a dull green with a strange yellow glint in the middle, looked lost, like she was somewhere far away.

"I'm... I'm sorry," Susie whispered, her voice almost inaudible. She wiped at her face, her fingers trembling.

Lilah clicked her tongue, eyes narrowing with disgust. "I don't care about your stupid excuses, Susie. I need perfect grades, and you know what happens if I don't get them."

Susie blinked, her gaze falling to the floor. Lilah's voice shifted, now a cruel mockery of sympathy. She pressed two fingers to her temple as though overwhelmed by pity.

"I'll have to tell my dad you've been bullying me at school~," Lilah's tone dripped with fake sadness, "and then he'll have to fire your dad. You don't want that, do you?"

Susie flinched at the words, her face paling even more. Lilah smiled, a sick, twisted grin that curled at the edges of her lips.

She leaned in close to Susie's ear, her breath warm against Susie's cold skin. "It would be a shame, wouldn't it? Especially since your family's already struggling... with your dead mom and all." Lilah's laugh was soft but sharp, like a blade.

Susie's hands balled into fists, and she bit down hard on her lower lip, holding back the anger and pain that threatened to overwhelm her. Blood began to mix with her tears as she bit down too hard, her lip splitting open.

Lilah patted her shoulder mockingly. "Well, better get to work," she said, spinning on her heels and sauntering down the hallway, her laughter echoing behind her.

—

Lilah reapplied her lip gloss, puckering her lips as she admired her reflection in a small pocket mirror while waiting for the bus. Her father had bought her the latest shade from her favorite makeup brand, and she made sure it was perfect.

She caught a glimpse of Susie in the mirror, standing alone near the train platform. Susie's uniform, crumpled and faded, hung awkwardly on her thinning frame. The skirt was too short, and the blouse looked like it hadn't been replaced in years.

Lilah sighed, a flicker of something almost like pity stirring in her chest. She stood up, smoothing down her leg warmers as she walked toward Susie. Susie stiffened, her posture rigid as Lilah approached, but she didn't make a move to run away.

"Well, well, look who it is," Lilah said, her voice falsely sweet as she rested her hand on Susie's bony shoulder. "That uniform is really something... I almost feel bad for you."

Susie's face was blotchy and red, as if she'd been crying non-stop since their last encounter.

Lilah clicked her tongue again, shaking her head in mock concern. "It matches your face though—yikes."